Arto
Dynamic duo... Arto's wife Ani has been part of the scene from the beginning of his career. They are inseparable.
Arto Yuzbasiyan was born in 1948 in Istanbul, Turkey to a talented, pianist mother, and a father who was a textile manufacturer. Though he did not play a musical instrument like the rest of his mother's talented family, he was interested in drawing and painting and so at the age of eight, he started taking lessons from a religious painter by the name of Ojeni Telyan. He was profoundly influenced by her traditional, classical style. Later on, he studied under Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu for a brief period of time and Mustafa Pilevneli. Nonetheless, Arto claims that his main influence was Telyan's teachings.

In 1972 he worked in Paris and in a small town in the Netherlands repairing Oriental tribal carpets, another passion of his besides painting.

Eventually, Arto immigrated to Canada in 1973 to reunite with his childhood love and marry. There his career as an artist emerged. What makes his work special and meaningful is its focus on the out of the way. Quiet downtown corners where life is carried on harmoniously, with little or no effort, have become the focus of his art. The inhabitants go about their business unaware, hurrying home in a winter storm or waiting for one of Arto's ever-present streetcars to arrive.

 
 

Select Solo Exhibitions

 2006Balzac Fine ArtToronto, Ontario
 2004Galerie D'Art VincentOttawa, Ontario
 2001Roberts GalleryToronto
 1994Roberts galleryToronto
 1993Decor GalleryNew Jersey, USA
 1990Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1988University of Toronto, Erindale CampusMississauga, Ontario
 1988Galerie Bernard DesrochesMontréal, Québec
 1987Setadel Studios with Royal Canadian ArtilleryToronto
 1985Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1983Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1982Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1980Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1980Kastel GalleryMontréal, Québec
 1979Johnson GalleryEdmonton, Alberta
 1979Janrielle GalleryNiagara Falls, Ontario
 1978Studio Six Art GalleryToronto
 1977Studio Six Art GalleryToronto
 1977Gallery of Fine ArtThunder Bay, Ontario
 1976Damkjar Burton GalleryHamilton, Ontario
 1976Aida GalleryBrampton, Ontario
 1975Gallery of Fine ArtThunder Bay, Ontario
 
 

Select Group Exhibitions

 2001Roberts Gallery Artists ChoiceToronto
 2000Roberts Gallery Artists Choice (Sketches)Toronto
 1999Roberts Gallery Artists Choice (Sketches)Toronto
 1999Asia Invitation Art ExhibitionSeoul, S. Korea
 1999Roberts Gallery Artists ChoiceToronto
 1998Hamazkain Art GalleryToronto
 1998Asia Invitation Art ExhibitionSeoul, S. Korea
 1998Roberts Gallery Artists ChoiceToronto
 1997 Asia Invitation Art ExhibitionSeoul, S. Korea
 1997 Roberts Gallery Artists ChoiceToronto
 1996Roberts Gallery Artists ChoiceToronto
 1995Roberts Gallery Artists ChoiceToronto
 1993Société des Arméniens d'IstanbulMontréal, Québec
 1993Artist choice Roberts GalleryToronto
 1991Seoul Watercolour int. Seoul, S. Korea
 1991The Taegu Int. Art Biennale ExibitionSeoul, S. Korea
 198888 Seoul Olympic GamesSeoul, S. Korea
 1988Collection of int. Watercolour PaintingsSeoul, S. Korea
 1986Watercolour Canadian ImpressionToronto
 1986Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1983Kaspar Gallery Collectors ChoiceToronto
 1982Toronto Through Artist EyeToronto
 1982Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1980Canadian Watercolour 1830-1980Toronto
 1980Kaspar GalleryToronto
 1980Kaspar Gallery Collectors ChoiceToronto
 1979Exhibition of Defasco Collection Hamilton, Ontario
 1979Art Gallery of Hamilton Hamilton, Ontario
 1977Annual Art ExhibitToronto
 1977Alpha Omega Women Ass.Toronto
 1976Annual Art ExhibitToronto
 1976Alpha Omega Women Ass. Toronto
 1975Annual Art Exhibit Toronto
 1975Alpha Omega Women Ass.Toronto
 
 

Collections

 Thomson Works of Art
 Rogers Communications
 Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
 Air Canada
 University of Toronto
 University Health Network Sunnybrook Hospital
 Toronto Public Library
 Tillbury Public Library
 Allstate Insurance Company
 IBM Canada
 Bell Canada
 Imperial Oil Ltd
 Cadillac Fairview Ltd.
 North American Life
 Canada Packers Ltd
 Toronto Board of Trade
 Canadian General Electric Company
 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
 Royal Insurance Company
 Hallmark Cards
 Defasco Steel Inc.
 Toronto Transit Commission
 DuPont Canada
 Musee du Quebec
 General Foods Inc
 
 

Countries in which more then three of Arto's paintings are part of collections

 Denmark
France
Germany
Holland
Italy
Republic of Ireland
South Korea
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States